Locum Hourly Rates Guide February 2026

Interim Lawyers – Hourly Rates of Pay for Locum Solicitors and Legal Executives February 2026 – these are the rates we have seen quoted or paid in the last 60 days. We update this guide on a monthly basis.

Locum solicitor and legal executive hourly rates – monthly reports from Interim Lawyers. Hourly rates for locums vary widely according to the level of demand, length of assignment, level of experience and advance notice available. Traditionally rates are at their highest between June and September and their lowest between December and February. Every month we publish our estimates of the current levels based on our own experiences. Salary levels guides can be found on our sister site, Ten-Percent Legal Recruitment, specialists for permanent legal recruitment. Our locum regional guide is here.

NB: Remote Working Role rates are about 10% lower.

• Civil Litigation – £50-£70 per hour
• COLP/COFA roles (temporary) – £50-£150 per hour/monthly retainer of £2-3k
• Commercial Contract – £35-£75 per hour
• Commercial Litigation – £55-£125 per hour
• Company Commercial – £60-£120 per hour
• Construction (non-contentious) £80-£110, (contentious) £60-90 per hour
• Conveyancing – £45-£55 per hour
• Commercial Property – £45-£65 per hour
• Employment Solicitors – £50-65 per hour
• Family Solicitors (Legal Aid) – £40 per hour
• Family Solicitors (Private) – £45-£55 per hour
• Family (Child Care LA) – £40-£45 per hour
• Immigration Lawyers – £30-£55 per hour
• In House Counsel: 0-3 years PQE – £35-£50 per hour
• In House Counsel: 3+ years PQE – £50-£110 per hour
• In House Interim Lawyers (SMEs) – £60-£85 per hour
• Insolvency – £50-£55 per hour IP – £55-80 per hour
• Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence – 3+ years PQE – £40-£50 per hour
• Professional Negligence – £45-£55 per hour
• Property Litigation – £45-£75 per hour
• Wills & Probate – £40-£60 per hour
• Locum Legal Cashiers – £25-£35 per hour
• Locum Paralegals – all areas – £20-£30 per hour

We have an online calculator to convert hourly rates to salary equivalents – click here. NB all rates exclude agency fees. The rates are for self-employed locum solicitors billing firms directly on a weekly basis. These are the ranges we have seen at www.interimlawyers.co.uk over the last 30 days from locum assignments posted with us, rates indicated by locums and rates agreed on new assignments started. For expert guidance on locum work please email Emma Ireland at emma.ireland@ten-percent.co.uk.